[Artists from Akita Prefecture] A comprehensive showcase from famous popular singers to up-and-coming bands
When you hear “an artist from Akita Prefecture,” who comes to mind? Finding a favorite band or singer-songwriter from your hometown gives you a little thrill, doesn’t it? Akita is home to many artists who deliver heartwarming works, led by Yu Takahashi.
It’s also known for exciting music festivals like the Akita CARAVAN MUSIC FES and the Oga Namahage Rock Festival.
In this article, we’ll introduce artists born in Akita along with their signature and popular songs.
- [Artists from Akita Prefecture] A comprehensive showcase from famous popular singers to up-and-coming bands
- [Akita Songs] A Collection of Gem-Like Local Tunes Filled with Love for Hometowns
- Beloved voices and music! Singers and artists from Tohoku
- [Folk Songs and Children's Songs of Akita] A curated selection of local masterpieces that evoke love for one’s hometown
- Bands, artists, and singers from Iwate Prefecture
- Takashi Yu's masterworks and popular songs
- Bands, artists, and singers from Yamagata Prefecture
- Takahashi Yu’s Popular Song Rankings [2026]
- Donpan-bushi: An Akita folk song passed down and sung by various artists
- Yuu Takahashi’s Cheer Songs and Popular Tracks Ranking [2026]
- Takahashi Yu’s Most Moving Songs and Popular Tracks Ranking [2026]
- KARAOKE Popular Song Rankings by Yu Takahashi [2026]
- Yuu Takahashi’s Graduation Songs, Entrance Ceremony Songs, and Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
Artists from Akita Prefecture: From Famous Popular Singers to Up-and-Coming Bands, All in One Go (1–10)
Trap over scrapAlter
Formed in Akita in 2008, this loud rock band champions a “true-to-form screamo” built around emotional melodies and screams.
Their hallmark sound fuses the raw intensity of hardcore with tear-jerking melodies that slowly resonate in the heart.
In 2016, they released their first nationally distributed mini-album, Transition.
They have deep hometown pride: in addition to performing at OGA NAMAHAGE ROCK FES in 2013, their music videos showcase Akita’s beautiful scenery, conveying their passion for uplifting the region.
If you loved 2000s-era screamo, their music will hit home.
existenceLunv Loyal
A talented rapper from Tsuchizaki Port, Akita City, Akita Prefecture.
He grabbed the mic in his teens and began to stand out in 2014 by participating in a compilation supervised by SEEDA.
He’s now signed to a major label and has expanded his reach from Tohoku to the entire country, successfully hosting events that drew around 200 people at a local club.
His signature tracks include “100” and “Acrophobia Remix.” His rap style blends a cool delivery with a hidden intensity, and his strong connection to Akita shines through in choices like incorporating hometown festival music into his tracks.
He’s an artist who proudly represents his roots and fights for his hometown—and it’s undeniably cool.
SPIDERWaater
A rock band formed by childhood friends from Akita Prefecture, launched in 2018 as an outgrowth of the frontman’s home-recorded solo project.
Rooted in alternative rock while traversing styles like punk and shoegaze, their sound blends a floating, airy feel with raw, early-stage energy.
They’ve released work consistently, including the 2019 EP “Escapes” and the 2023 album “Waater.” The band has drawn media attention for a musicality shaped by sensibilities nurtured under Akita’s overcast skies and a contrasting yearning for pop brightness—an intriguing imbalance.
There’s even a unique story about adding members in a drunken spur of the moment.
A perfect pick for listeners seeking free-spirited rock unconstrained by genre.
Artists from Akita Prefecture: From famous popular singers to buzzworthy bands, an all-in-one showcase (11–20)
Wishing Star ~I wish upon a star~itsuka
Itsuka is a singer from Kazuno City.
In 2008, she released the image song for the local Akita Towada-Hachimantai National Park, “Kono Sora de Tsunagatteiru,” and the following year made her major-label debut with “Negai-boshi ~I wish upon a star~” from avex io.
Some may know this track as the theme song for the film Aegis in the Dawn (Manatsu no Orion).
In recent years, she has been active on YouTube with her sister, Hiyori Nara, known for singing in Zexy commercials.
Influenced by artists like Bob Dylan, the Carpenters, and DREAMS COME TRUE, Itsuka’s voice somehow conjures up vast natural landscapes before your eyes.
Her gently powerful expression is stunning and has earned high praise within the industry.
toughnessJETG
A rapper from Akita Prefecture, now based in Yokohama.
Centered on the Japanese drill style, he’s a solo artist rapidly rising in prominence.
His cool hallmark is tearing across hard-edged beats with dense, high-speed bars.
Since 2023, he’s been actively releasing music under his solo name, dropping EPs like “JETLIFE” and “progress” in quick succession.
His performance videos have been buzzing on social media, proving his chops beyond doubt.
In January 2025, he also performed at his hometown event, NAMAHAGE UNITED 2025.
Blending street-level tension with introspective lyrics, his music is sure to resonate with anyone looking to experience cutting-edge Japanese rap.
SquallMatsumoto Eiko
Singer-songwriter Eiko Matsumoto hails from Akita City in Akita Prefecture.
She is best known for the hit of her second single, “Squall,” produced by Masaharu Fukuyama.
She debuted in 1999 with “Namida no Chikara,” a track produced by Douglas Carr.
Praised for her “peppermint voice,” Matsumoto’s delicate, crystal-clear vocals vividly evoke the scenes of a song and listeners’ memories, resonating deeply in the heart.
Beyond her work as a singer, she has also had a long career as a radio DJ, hosting “With You” on FM Akita since 2021.
Spinning CurtainIkoma Rina, Suzuki Ayane (Nogizaka Forty-six)
Nogizaka46 became a nationally beloved idol group with hits like “Influencer” and “Synchronicity.” Among them, Rina Ikoma, a former central figure of the group, hails from Yurihonjo City, and second-generation member Ayane Suzuki is from Ogata Village in Minamiakita District.
From the group’s early days, Rina Ikoma led the way—especially in dance—serving as center for many of the early title tracks.
After graduating in 2018, she became the Akita Work Support Ambassador and the image character for NHK Akita Broadcasting Station’s 90th anniversary.
Ayane Suzuki, who loves airplanes and Gundam model kits, has a gentle demeanor and captivates with her dazzling presence.
In 2022, she was cast as the lead in the stage play “The Sixth Sayoko,” raising expectations for her growing career as an actress.